Blue star (Amsonia 'Starstruck')
Discover Amsonia 'Starstruck', a low-maintenance herbaceous perennial Blue star known for showy light blue flowers and excellent deer resistance.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial, often recognized by its common name, Blue star. This cultivar offers reliable texture and terminal clusters of delicate, light blue, star-shaped flowers, providing excellent late-spring interest in the garden. It is celebrated for its reliably low maintenance needs and strong constitution, making it a solid choice for gardeners seeking long-term impact without constant fuss.
Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ establishes into dense, neatly clump-forming habits, typically reaching 2.5 feet tall and spreading moderately wide. Beyond its summer blooms, the foliage often provides attractive seasonal contrast. Furthermore, the milky latex produced when stems or leaves are cut acts as a natural defense mechanism, contributing to its robust nature against pests.
This Blue star is an essential component for mixed borders or mass plantings where reliable color and form are required. Its cultural adaptability, preferring average to moist soils, ensures success across varied garden settings, provided it receives adequate light. Consider Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ for sustainable landscape designs that benefit from low inputs and high performance.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Apocynaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.75-2.5 ft
- Spread: 2.5-3.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May
- Bloom Description: Light blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant this beautiful Blue star when conditions are cooperative, ideally in spring or early fall once the severe threat of frost has passed. Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ thrives in average, medium-textured soil, but it demonstrates a preference for moist, loamy conditions. While it performs well in full sun, placing it where it receives afternoon relief from intense heat can prolong the flower display, as direct, scorching sun may cause blooms to fade faster.
Watering should be moderate; established plants are fairly drought-tolerant once settled, but young specimens require consistent moisture to develop strong root systems. Fertilization is rarely necessary; rich soil often encourages excessive flopping rather than robust blooming. Taller clumps sometimes benefit from strategic staking or support, especially if planted in light, fluffy soil, to prevent the stems from opening up in the center.
For best fall foliage display, ensure your Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ receives good amounts of sun throughout the growing season. If the plant is situated in too much shade, the stems may become weak and sprawl outwards, diminishing its tidy, clump-forming habit. Minimal cleanup is required; simply cut back the stems in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
Landscape Uses
The architectural elegance and reliable color of Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ make it highly versatile in landscape design. It functions exceptionally well when used for defining the middle to back layers of perennial borders, providing a soft, airy mass of blue in late spring. Massing several plants together creates a significant impact, turning the area into a vibrant feature when the Blue star is in full glory.
Beyond traditional borders, this cultivar excels in functional areas like rain gardens, effectively utilizing medium water needs in areas that experience intermittent wetness. Its resistance to deer makes it a trustworthy addition near patios or woodland edges where browsing wildlife is a concern. Furthermore, stalks of Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ hold up well when freshly cut, making selections available for creating beautiful, informal arrangements indoors.
Consider pairing Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ with plants that have contrasting foliage textures or bloom times, such as hostas or late-season ornamental grasses, to maintain visual interest throughout the summer after the blue flowers have finished. Its shade tolerance also allows it to transition gracefully from sunnier spots into open woodland garden settings.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Amsonia is a genus of about 20 species native to light woodlands or grasslands of Southeast Europe, Turkey, Japan, and Central and Northeast United States. They are clump-forming perennials with narrow, alternate leaves and clusters of blue, 5-petaled flowers. Stems and leaves produce a milky latex when cut or torn which protects the plant from herbivory. The blooms are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators.Genus name honors Dr. John Amson (1698-1765?), an English physician and amateur botanist who lived and worked in Williamsburg, Virginia during the colonial period. ‘Starstruck’ is a compact, hybrid bluestar that was selected from seed grown plants resulting from a cross between Amsonia rigida and A. Tabernaemontana. Mature clumps can reach up to 2.5’ tall and spread to fill a 3.5’ area. Terminal clusters of blue, star-shaped flowers bloom in late spring. US plant patent PP32246 applies to this cultivar.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ is generally appreciated for its lack of significant pest or disease issues, contributing highly to its low maintenance profile. Gardeners rarely need to contend with serious insect infestations or fungal outbreaks when growing this species correctly. Furthermore, deer actively avoid chewing on the foliage, thanks to the protective milky sap present in the stems and leaves.
The primary issue associated with this Blue star relates to environmental conditions rather than pest pressure. If the plant is situated in heavy, poorly drained soil, root issues can eventually arise. Conversely, growth in excessive shade can lead to weak stems that flop open, compromising the neat mounded shape of the Amsonia ‘Starstruck’. Ensure appropriate light and soil drainage for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ suitable for?
This versatile perennial is suitable for USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Blue star grow?
Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ typically reaches a mature height between 1.75 and 2.5 feet tall, spreading to cover an area of 2.5 to 3.5 feet wide.
When does Blue star bloom?
The terminal clusters of light blue flowers generally appear in May, providing significant visual appeal in the late spring garden.
What sun exposure does Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ need?
For optimal performance, Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ prefers full sun to part shade conditions, though afternoon shade is helpful in very hot climates.
Conclusion
Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ stands out as a resilient, low-effort perennial that delivers beautiful, true-blue color every spring. Its deer resistance and adaptability to moist soils make the Blue star an invaluable structural plant for diverse garden designs. Before planting, verify that your site offers medium water access and either full sun or partial shade to ensure the best performance from your Amsonia ‘Starstruck’.
Companion Planting
Because Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ prefers medium water but needs good drainage, pair it with perennials that share similar moisture requirements. Good neighbors include Iris sibirica (Siberian Iris), which blooms around the same time, and Astilbe varieties that can handle slightly drier conditions than typical. For textural contrast, position the fine foliage of the Blue star near plants with coarser leaves, like Peonies or certain ornamental grasses that enjoy full sun exposure.
Wildlife Benefits
The star-shaped, light blue blooms of Amsonia ‘Starstruck’ are highly effective at attracting beneficial insects. The genus is well-regarded for its attraction to various butterfly species and essential early-season pollinators searching for nectar. Planting this species supports local pollinator populations during the transition from early spring to summer, enhancing the ecological value of your landscape beds.
